Mini-Catapults, part 2: Marshmallow-flinging showdown

Today was our final Engineering club meeting for the year. But excitement filled the air as our young engineers arrived eager the finish their catapults and start flinging marshmallows. We were equipped, today, with more Gorilla tape, a few designer rolls of duct tape (plaid and tie-dyed), and the ever-important hot glue gun, to help complete our miniature catapults.

Some groups finished early giving them extra time to practice their aim and trajectory using miniature pom-poms. Other groups really needed all of the allotted time to perfect their machines using the hot-glue-gun and duct tape. The teams were aware that they would be competing in two different categories: distance, and accuracy, using the district competition rules that some already discovered earlier this year. A target (and different colored mini-pompoms for each team) would be used to determine accuracy.

Finally the time came for the battle of the marshmallow flinging machines. The students all gathered around the double doors to the Media Center in the hallway with their miniature catapults to put their design skills to the test. Each team was allowed five launches, each for distance, and for accuracy. Marshmallows were launched first. The Victorians were victorious in the first round, with Team Science and Technology following up behind them.

Engineering by Design teams gathered for the final showdown
of engineering design wit and skill

Next up was the Accuracy Round. A target was placed 15 feet in front of the launch line (doorway entrance) - if the team's pompom landed anywhere on the target they received 5 points. The winners from the first round were able to launch first. Each team received 6 miniature pompoms, with each team receiving a different color.

Team Science and Technology won the accuracy round with 15 points, while The Engineers placed second with 10 points. All teams enjoyed a handful of miniature marshmallows for their efforts.

Black Ops Bros. practicing with pompoms	The Victorians practicing their accuracy before- hand were firing shot after shot off in the same area.
Science and Technology Team posing with their mini-catapult.	The Engineers trying to work out last minute details to their design.
With a couple members of Leonardo's Assistants already competing earlier in the year with TSA, they decided to try their luck with a similar design they used in TSA, mainly, no stopper bar allowing their beam, or spoon in this case, to continually spin around in its torsion.	The Victorians design included an inclined base rather than a flat base. They thought this would give them an edge in distance firing.
Team Science & Technology prepares to launch a pompom going for accuracy.	The Black Ops Bros. demonstrate that you can create a catapult out of just about anything as they use a small wooden crate for their base and sides.
The Engineers work as as team as Sara holds the posts apart at the top, while Lily releases the spoon to fling their marshmallow down the hall.	Leonardo's Assistants preparing the launch their pompoms for accuracy the trials.
Team Black Ops firing another pompom at the target.	The Victorians trying their hand at accuracy with their catapult.
Leonardo's Assistants shooting pompoms at the target for accuracy.	The Engineers taking aim for accuracy.
Team Science and Technology members, Nicolas, Max, and Tucker fire a blue pompom at the target.